Women now 1 of 4 UMC clergy in U.S.

Despite a slight decline in the number of United Methodist clergy in the U.S., the percentage of women is growing.

As of 2011, the most recent figures available, women were 25 percent of U.S. UMC clergy. Some of the local percentages were much higher — in 10 of the 56 annual conferences studied, women were at least a third of all clergy, according to an analysis by the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women.

A complete report, including charts, graphics and a listing of each annual conference’s numbers, can be found in this month’s “Women by the Numbers” feature posted on the GCSRW website.